Delivery in 2028! Zhoushan Shipyard to Build New Offshore Engineering Vessel

On September 19, Belgium's DEME Group announced an order for a new Offshore Construction Vessel (OCV), which will be built by Zhoushan Pacific Marine Engineering, a subsidiary of Singapore-based PaxOcean.

This new vessel is equipped with capabilities for trench excavation, pipeline laying, and subsea cable installation, and features a methanol-fueled propulsion system design that prepares it for future use of green fuels. The ship is scheduled for delivery in 2028, at which time it will join DEME's existing two cable-laying vessels, the "Living Stone" and the "Viking Neptun," creating synergistic operational capabilities.

This vessel is based on the Norwegian SALT 310 design, with an overall length of 123 meters. It is equipped with a DP2 dynamic positioning system, a 150-ton active heave-compensated offshore crane, a hangar capable of housing two work-class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), a 1,000 kWh hybrid battery power system, and a methanol-fueled propulsion design that ensures future fuel flexibility. The ship can accommodate up to 123 people and features two 2,500-ton cable winches.

DEME did not disclose the contract value, only stating that the project amount falls between €50 million and €150 million (approximately RMB 420 million to RMB 1.259 billion).

Hugo Bouvy, Managing Director of DEME Offshore Energy, stated: "With over 5,000 kilometers of subsea cables already laid across wind farms in Europe and the U.S., DEME continues to deliver efficient and reliable offshore project solutions to our clients. Building on this expertise, the addition of the new vessel will further enhance DEME's cable-laying capabilities and expand its versatile fleet and comprehensive range of solutions."

It is understood that DEME Group is a global leader in contracting within the fields of marine energy, environmental restoration, dredging, and maritime infrastructure development. The company’s business also spans offshore wind power, marine infrastructure, green hydrogen, and deep-sea mineral extraction—areas where it holds strategic concessions. With nearly 150 years of industry expertise, DEME has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation, dedicated to addressing global challenges such as climate change, population growth and urbanization, expanding maritime trade, and pressing environmental issues through the delivery of integrated, cutting-edge solutions. The group boasts more than 5,800 highly skilled professionals and operates one of the world’s most advanced fleets of engineering vessels, equipping it with the core capabilities needed to undertake projects of unparalleled complexity. In fiscal year 2024, DEME achieved an impressive revenue of €4.1 billion, with EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) reaching €764 million.

PaxOcean is a shipyard established by the multinational conglomerate Kwok Group to expand its ship repair and construction businesses. It owns and operates five shipyards in Singapore, China, and Indonesia, while also managing an Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) facility in Saudi Arabia. Founded in 2007, PaxOcean now offers a diverse range of services, including new shipbuilding, vessel maintenance, ship conversion and refurbishment, module fabrication, green recycling, and integrated solutions spanning both conventional and renewable energy sectors.

PaxOcean's shipyard in China, Zhoushan Pacific Offshore Engineering, has been operational since 2010. It features two ultra-large dry docks, a 576-meter-long quay with a water depth of 12 meters, and is equipped with 900-ton cranes. The docks can accommodate various types of ULCCs, VLOCs, Suezmax tankers, and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, each with a maximum deadweight tonnage of up to 400,000 tons, as well as ultra-large container ships capable of carrying up to 16,000 TEU.

Notably, earlier this year, PaxOcean also signed a contract with a well-known European shipowner for the construction of two additional OCV vessels, with delivery expected in 2027. While PaxOcean Group declined to disclose specific details about the shipowner, shipping brokerage firms revealed that the order originated from Seatankers, a subsidiary of Norwegian shipping magnate John Fredriksen.

According to Clarkson's data, as of now, Zhoushan Pacific Offshore Engineering holds orders for a total of 21 vessels, totaling 358,400 deadweight tons. These include 8 multipurpose ships, 2 product oil tankers, 2 multipurpose workboats, 1 cable-laying vessel, and 8 platform supply vessels (PSVs), with delivery schedules extending as late as 2028.